The Truth About Marketing - Part I
Stop the presses... Hold everything!
Recently, with the assistance of our staff we posted two blog entries tied to marketing tips based on Guerilla Marketing by Jay Conrad Levinson, the father of "Guerilla Marketing". I am huge fan of Levinson and Guerilla Marketing, but, as I was reflecting on the two blog entries I remembered that Guerilla Marketing is NOT really about marketing as I view it. Unfortunately Levinson's approach further promulgates the myth about what many people believe marketing is, versus what it really is. Certainly, Guerilla Marketing is part of what marketing is all about, but compared to the true definition and application it represents a very small part of the overall marketing discipline.
In this multi-part series on the "Truth About Marketing" it may be easier to understand what marketing is by defining what it's not.
Marketing is not:
You may also be asking yourself why I am on the rant about marketing all of a sudden? That's a good question, so please allow me to answer it.
In addition to the fact, as stated above, that I should have written this blog entry prior to publishing the other recent blogs, here are some facts that I have discovered during my business career that now spans over thirty-seven years.
Most businesses fail based on six key factors:
Needless to say I am passionate about marketing and the contribution it can make to any and all businesses.
Hopefully, I have captured your interest to the degree necessary for you to want to follow this ongoing series on marketing. For all of our various strategic partners across the country, if you know of a business that you feel could use some help please forward this blog to them and encourage them to subscribe to future blog entries.
Speaking of subscribing to BlueBlog", if you receive value from our blog please scroll down about two-thirds of the way down the right column and look for the box that says SUBSCRIBE. Simply complete the fields and future blog entries will be sent to you automatically.
As always, please feel free to reply to this or any other blog entry with your comments. Look for Part II coming soon!
Recently, with the assistance of our staff we posted two blog entries tied to marketing tips based on Guerilla Marketing by Jay Conrad Levinson, the father of "Guerilla Marketing". I am huge fan of Levinson and Guerilla Marketing, but, as I was reflecting on the two blog entries I remembered that Guerilla Marketing is NOT really about marketing as I view it. Unfortunately Levinson's approach further promulgates the myth about what many people believe marketing is, versus what it really is. Certainly, Guerilla Marketing is part of what marketing is all about, but compared to the true definition and application it represents a very small part of the overall marketing discipline.
In this multi-part series on the "Truth About Marketing" it may be easier to understand what marketing is by defining what it's not.
Marketing is not:
- Sales
- Advertising
- Business Development
- Public Relations
- Social Media
- Promotion
- Marketing is one of the most often misunderstood and seldom used of all the business disciplines.
- Marketing is the hub or core of business, from it all other aspects of business emanate.
- Marketing is often strategic, yet leads to tactics.
- Marketing is the beginning, middle and end of the business process.
- Marketing is the rudder of the ship, without it you go no where.
You may also be asking yourself why I am on the rant about marketing all of a sudden? That's a good question, so please allow me to answer it.
In addition to the fact, as stated above, that I should have written this blog entry prior to publishing the other recent blogs, here are some facts that I have discovered during my business career that now spans over thirty-seven years.
Most businesses fail based on six key factors:
- They failed to conduct a proper feasibility study prior to launching the business.
- They did not create a business model that accurately addresses how, when, and from where the business makes money.
- They may have written a business plan, but in most cases it was for the purpose of getting a loan, not a strategic "blue print" designed to lead the business toward long term success.
- They aren't prepared to evolve and grow as business owners and as necessary to start, grow, and manage their business toward long term success. Ego is often the culprit here.
- They do not understand marketing and have not deployed this very valuable business discipline within their feasibility study, business model, and strategic plan.
Needless to say I am passionate about marketing and the contribution it can make to any and all businesses.
Hopefully, I have captured your interest to the degree necessary for you to want to follow this ongoing series on marketing. For all of our various strategic partners across the country, if you know of a business that you feel could use some help please forward this blog to them and encourage them to subscribe to future blog entries.
Speaking of subscribing to BlueBlog", if you receive value from our blog please scroll down about two-thirds of the way down the right column and look for the box that says SUBSCRIBE. Simply complete the fields and future blog entries will be sent to you automatically.
As always, please feel free to reply to this or any other blog entry with your comments. Look for Part II coming soon!
On the edge of my seat for part two, Tim!
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